Written by

Big bucks for badass burgers: That's how I've always thought of the Sutter Home Build a Better Burger Recipe Contest presented for more than 20 years by Sutter Home Family Vineyards. This year, 10 casual cooks from across the country are competing for more than $120,000 in prizes, including the $100,000 grand prize in the beef category. No matter how you dress it, that's a lot of money for a primo patty.

A few years ago, I even considered entering with a tribute to my melting pot Hawaiian childhood. I'll do a combined kalua pork and ground chuck burger, I remember thinking, but how to unite ...